Page 56 of Switchin' Lanes

“No, Kara. It’syourfault. Because ofyou,he got back on drugs. Because ofyou,he got involved with the wrong people. Because ofyou,he overdosed,” I shout at her.

Her eyes narrow on me. “Who the fuck are you to blame me? You abandoned him!”

My face heats and my heart rate picks up as I charge her. I must black out because the next thing I know, Hollywood’s arms are around me and I’m being lifted off of Kara. I notice both her face and my fists are bloody. Kicks is laughing while Diesel is shaking his head but smirking.

Hollywood sets me on my feet and turns me to face him. With his hands cupping my face, he searches my eyes like he’s trying to get inside my mind. I take a deep breath, breathing in his cologne. The more deep breaths I take, the more my heart slows to normal beats. His nearness calms me.

“Let’s get you some fresh air,” Hollywood suggests. He walks me outside, only stopping to grab a hand towel and a bottle of water from behind the bar. Once we’re outside, Hollywood pours some water on my hands. Being ever so gentle, he cleans the blood off them. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice someone beeline right to us.

“Hollywood!” Carmine grabs his arm, turning him to face her.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I mutter.

“Excuse me? What the hell’s your problem?” Carmine hisses out at me.

“Youare my problem. The fact that you can’t take a fucking hint.”

She looks at me like I grew a second head or something.

“Let me make this perfectly clear: Hollywood. Does. Not. Want. You.” I enunciate each word. “He’s my Ol’ Man and Diesel belongs to both of us.”

“Both of them?” She sneers. “Don’t be such a greedy bitch.”

Something in me snaps and I laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Her face screws up in confusion. I grab a fistful of her hair, yanking her head down and introduce her face to my knee. There’s a distinct crack and blood rushes down her face. Hollywood laughs behind me.

“You broke my fucking nose,” Carmine cries out. “You bitch.”

I cock my hip to the side, resting my hand on my hip, feeling victorious.

“Maybe now you’ll have learned your lesson,” I snap at her.

Hollywood turns my attention to him. He’s still chuckling. “Remind me to never get on your bad side.”

“I should probably go get cleaned up.” I glance down at my jeans, blood covering my right leg.

“Hurry back.” He swipes his tongue along my bottom lip and kisses me before I walk inside.